n. An ancient form of trial in which an accused person could call a number of people, usually 12, to swear to their belief in the accused person's innocence. [Late Latin compūrgātiō, compūrgātiōn-, complete purification, from Latin compūrgātus, past participle of compūrgāre, to purify completely : com-, intensive pref.; see COM- + pūrgāre, to purify; see peuə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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